Until she was a junior in high school, my maternal grandmother was unaware of the existence of Judaism. It was not her fault– she had been raised in what she calls a “bubble:” a religious community in rural Michigan, where…
Finding Female Empowerment in Judaism, Part II: Women’s Customs
In my prior article, Finding Female Empowerment in Judaism, Part I: The Stories of the Bible, I highlighted several Bible stories that demonstrate and exude female empowerment. I will now continue the series by examining women’s spiritual roles in the…
Isaac: A biblical introvert
We know less about Isaac than any of the other patriarchs. In the major events of his life he is acted upon – being bound for the Akedah and having Jacob steal the birthright by fooling Isaac in old age.…
Finding female empowerment in Judaism, Part I: The stories of the Bible
Judaism comes with a set of beautiful morals, including everything from making the world a better place to giving and donating. Another value I recently learned is very Jewish is female empowerment. Many tales of the Bible embody and exemplify…
D’var theory: The ancient and contemporary polymath
It often seems like one’s academic major in higher education is a blood-bound oath, and America’s culture of specialized labor promotes that stoicism in kind. Judaism by contrast touts the polymath, a person of wide-ranging knowledge or skill, as the…
12 Best Kosher Foods to Buy at Trader Joes
Trader Joe’s is well known for their healthy and cheap options, but in the Jewish world, they are well-known for the large variety of Kosher and pareve products on their shelves. With such a wide variety, here are a few…
Taste of Torah: The Ethical Side of Sukkot
It is fascinating that we can read the weekly Torah portion and find some point that resonates most with us. This week’s Torah reading, that of Sukkot, poses no exception. In the portion we read on Sukkot, found in Leviticus…
Attending class during the holiday
There is perhaps no decision more representative of the difficulties of being a practicing Jewish college student than the quintessential question of whether or not to attend class during Chag. To me, this is not a question of grades or…
Shariff Mordechai Hazan: an African American man’s journey to Judaism
When you think of Shavuot, you might be reminded of staying up all night learning or eating cheesecake. A lesser known custom is reading the Book of Ruth. There are many reasons for this custom, the first being that Shavuot…
Reconciling Judaism and Atheism
Judaism is an ancient faith that remains strong even to this day, with over 12 million “members of the Tribe” and its own Jewish-majority state. Atheism, on the other hand, is the lack of belief in the existence of G-d…